The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is soliciting input on pending reports, feedback on its management plan, and nominations for newly-created special procedures from civil society in April and May. Candidates for Special Rapporteurs for Mali and Haiti OHCHR seeks the proposal of independent experts for nomination to one year Special Rapporteur mandates reporting
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African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights Takes Action on Access to Information, Reproductive Health during 53rd Session
The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) is currently holding its 53rd Ordinary Session, from April 9 to April 23, 2013 in Banjul, The Gambia. During the session, the Commission’s agenda will include public hearings on the human rights situation in Africa, the review individual complaints (“communications”), States’ reports, and activity reports, and the launch of a model
Read moreTruth and Reconciliation Commission for Nepal Continues to Face Criticism
Nepal continues to face difficult questions in addressing the legacy of the civil conflict that spanned 1996 to 2006. On March 14, 2013, Nepal’s President Ram Baran Yadav passed an ordinance creating a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was first called for by the 2006 peace accords that ended the decades long conflict. However, the ordinance was prepared without input
Read moreIn I.K. v. Austria, ECtHR Prohibits Deportation of Russian National Due to Risk of Collective Punishment against Those with Ties to Alleged Chechen Separatists
Last week, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) announced its decision in the case of I.K. v. Austria, app. no. 2964/12, Judgment of 28 March 2013, in which the court considered the conventionality of Austria’s denial of asylum to a Russian national of Chechen origin whose father had worked for former Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov. The court held, unanimously,
Read moreUN Votes to Adopt Arms Trade Treaty, Restricting Export of Weapons that May Be Used for Human Rights Violations
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to adopt an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on April 2, 2013. The treaty regulates international trade of conventional arms, and aims to “[contribute] to international and regional peace, security and stability.” ATT, art. 1. Among other requirements, States Parties must prohibit the international transfer of arms whenever the government has knowledge that
Read moreOpen for Comments: Draft UN Principles on Remedies for Trafficked Persons
The UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, recently released the Draft Basic Principles on the Right to an Effective Remedy for Trafficked Persons. The Principles address both legal and procedural measures that States should take to support and assist survivors of trafficking, with attention to the particular vulnerability of trafficked children.
Read moreUN Human Rights Council Concludes 22nd Session with Resolutions on North Korea, Mali, Syria, and Human Rights Defenders
The United Nations Human Rights Council concluded its twenty-second regular session last week after adopting a number of decisions, statements and resolutions to address pressing concerns in a handful of countries, advance its work on a range of human rights issues, and call for greater protection of human rights defenders. [OHCHR] Among other notable decisions during the four-week session, the
Read moreOAS Concludes Formal Inter-American Human Rights ‘Strengthening’ Process, but Dialogue Continues on Contentious Reforms
Just before midnight on Friday, March 22, the General Assembly of the Organization of American States approved a resolution making specific recommendations to OAS Member States and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights ostensibly aimed at strengthening the regional human rights system. The resolution closes a contentious two-year process of reflection on the Inter-American human rights organs, but requires the OAS Permanent
Read moreUN Commission on the Status of Women Concludes with Recommendations to Eradicate Violence against Women and Girls
The fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) concluded last week with its adoption of a historic set of conclusions, agreed to by 131 States, on the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. [UN News Centre] The agreed conclusions, which were drafted with the participation of civil society, urge governments and
Read moreEuropean Committee of Social Rights Hears Complaints Involving Trade Union Rights, Access to Abortion, Social Security, and Discrimination during its 263rd Session
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) will hold its 263rd Session from March 18-23, 2013, during which it will hear thirteen collective complaints and examine States’ reports on compliance with certain articles of the European Social Charter. [ECSR Agenda] Additionally, the Committee will hold a meeting about non-accepted provisions of the Charter and exchange views with the Commissioner for
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